In this episode of Sportsplaining, we discuss the relegation of Kenya 7s from the World Rugby Seven Series, explaining and simplifying key concepts such as what it means to be a core team.We address the lack of discussion surrounding the crucial factor of the World Rugby Seven Series changing the format of HSBC World Rugby Seven Series to match the Olympics format, and how this is a devil in the detail which led to Kenya's relegation from the HSBC World Rugby Seven Series. We delve into Kenya's journey to achieve that status and discuss the challenges Kenya now faces, including the search for sponsorship and the lack of solid competition. And touch upon factors contributing to Kenya's relegation, such as player retirements and mismanagement within the Kenya Rugby Union.  Sources: https://www.theelephant.info/culture/2019/03/21/stuck-in-a-ruck-the-perpetual-crisis-of-kenya-sevens-rugby/https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1126466/world-rugby-sevens-series-changeshttps://www.world.rugby/sevens-series/?lang=enhttps://olympics.com/en/sports/rugby-sevens/Music from:Pyro Flow Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

In this episode of Sportsplaining, we delve into the fascinating relationship between sports and politics in African countries. We explore the bans imposed by FIFA on Kenya, Chad, and Zimbabwe due to government interference. We highlight the challenges and complexities of this collision in the continent through analogies and historical examples. From President Mugabe's image-building move with Brazil's national team, to President Moi's suppression of ethnic-based football clubs in Kenya and President Kagamae's footprint in sports development in Rwanda, we uncover the intertwined nature of sports and politics. Join us as we discuss how politics and sports are played on the same field in Africa. Tune in for an entertaining and critical discussion on this fascinating topic!

In this episode of Sportsplaining, we delve into the realities of African kids pursuing their dream of playing football in Europe. With 15,000 children falling victim to human trafficking through the football industry each year, we discuss how this happens. The challenges faced by African footballers who also play in Europe are explored. While success stories like Salah exist, the reality is that most African footballers live in poor conditions and are still exploited in foreign countries.The challenges faced by African footballers in pursuit of their dreams of playing in Europe are numerous and daunting, but we discuss the potential solutions to these issues.Link to research: https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/research/beacons-of-excellence/rights-lab/resources/reports-and-briefings/2021/august/the-problem-of-sports-trafficking.pdfMusic from:Pyro Flow Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Welcome to Sportsplaining, the podcast that takes a critical look at issues in sports. In this episode, we delve into the complex world of anti-doping in Africa, where several countries are facing challenges in implementing anti-doping policies.One country that has been in the spotlight recently is Kenya, which is grappling with a doping crisis as more and more athletes fail doping tests and violate anti-doping regulations. However, while the anti-doping policy is meant to prevent cheating in sports, it is not without its own flaws.During this episode, we will explore what anti-doping and doping are, and provide an overview of the World Anti-Doping Agency and how the whole world came to be bound by it; a process that is not flawless too. We'll examine the reasons why countries in Africa are having difficulties implementing anti-doping policies. Ultimately, our goal is to provide a nuanced and thought-provoking exploration of the complexities of the anti-doping movement in the African context.Join us as we take a deep dive into this important topic and unpack the realities of anti-doping policy in Africa.Music from:Pyro Flow Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/